Aiming to designate the island Kurima Island as a park — creating a place where the Japanese green turtle and the Japanese sea turtle can live and the jellyfish and jellyfish shark can swim

Towards designating the park on Kurima Island

Creating an island where jellyfish and sea turtles can live and jellyfish eels can swim

July 31, 2025 (Thursday) at the Remote Islands Center

Purpose

Go to Inarashio IslandCandidate areas for national parkizationTo add to that,Local residentsWe aim to deeply recognize and share the value of the natural environment and the need to preserve it, and to link these to actions that are feasible for future efforts. Furthermore,Environmental protection activitiesTo share the importance of this across the entire region and to protect the region in a sustainable way.Specific stepsIt aims to take the first step.

Furthermore, since it has also been confirmed that there are dugongs on Irabu Island, the Iroribushi–Ikamara–Ikemaru–Yabiji  route — which is the route that dugongs use to migrate — will be promoted as a designated park.

Organized by

The Executive Committee that will create Next Kurima Island

Application

Schedule

1. Overview of the Parking Project & Opening Remarks (18:30 – 18:40)

• Purpose: Coming to Inaricho IslandNational ParkizationBriefly convey the purpose and significance of the seminar and indicate the direction of the study session to the participants.
• Contents:
  • Background of the park development project(2 minutes)
    • What does it mean to be designated a national park?
    • Discuss the benefits of urbanizing parks for the local community.
  • The purpose and benefits of parkification(3 minutes)
    • Explain the importance of environmental protection, its value as a tourist resource, and its impact on the local economy.
    • Regarding the impact of the addition of Kurima Island to the national park on the local community and tourism industry.
  • Future steps and specific schedule(2 minutes)
    • Introducing the steps and necessary procedures for national parkification.
  • Opening remarks(3 minutes)
    • Reaffirming the purpose of the study group, emphasizing the importance of how local residents and stakeholders cooperate and share their values to take action.

2. NTT Data Automotive Research Institute presentation (18:40 – 19:00)

• ThemeEnvironmental conservation and safety management utilizing autonomous driving technology
• Contents:
  • Autonomous driving technologyHow is that?Environmental protectionやSafety managementThe benefits of this are explained through concrete examples (for example, at the Tako Park).
  • Patrol systemRegional applications usingEnvironmental monitoringDiscussing the method and explaining its feasibility.
  • Using technologyExplain how it can contribute to environmental protection and its relevance.
  • Future initiativesAs such, it utilizes autonomous driving technologyRegional cooperationIt suggests new possibilities for the future.

3. Presentation by Mr. Ozawa, Director of the Okinawa Prefectural Center for Environmental Science (19:00 – 19:30)

• ThemeThe role of Kurima Island as a spawning ground for sharks and the cooperation with Irabu Island
• Contents:
  • In coming to Inaricho Island, they emphasized that the important location for the humpback whale migration and the protection activities there highlight how important it is in environmental conservation.
  • They will discuss how Kurima Island and Irabu Island can work together to strengthen shark conservation efforts.
• Purpose: Clarifying the need for Junko's protection activities and cooperation with the local communityOur roleTo make it possible to be aware of it.

4. Professor Fujita's presentation (19:30 – 19:55)

• Theme: Ecology of the Japanese crayfish and the importance of its conservation Recent activity reports
• Contents: Explains the importance of shark conservation activities and cooperation with local communities.
• PurposeEmphasizing the importance of protecting the entire ecosystem of Kurima Island, the local residentsViewed as a local issueTo cultivate a sense of being able to participate actively.

5. Panel discussion (19:55 – 20:20)

• ThemeRegarding the content of the meetup:
• Contents: Towards parkificationSpecific stepsWe discussed this issue and considered how the cooperation of local residents could help protect the area. We also collected opinions from the audience.
• PurposeThe participantsA feasible action planWe will strive to create a vision and further strengthen local initiatives.
• PerformersPanelists: Committee on Tribal Meetings

6. Questions and Answers (20:20 – 20:30)

• ContentsAfter receiving questions from the participants, the speaker answered them.

7. Summary and Closing Remarks (20:30 – 20:35)

Registration for participation is available here.

The Okinawa Resort Wedding Association will also participate!